The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-11-14
MORMON MONEY.
The Great Tithing System of the Poiyeamists
Some Food for Christian Reflection.


Some Food for Christian Reflection.
st. Louis Post Dispatch
Rev. Dwight Spencer, who arrived in the city
yesterday to take the position or acting secretary
of the Baptist Home Mission Society of the
Southwest. comes fresh from the fields of Nor
monism, where the poly gamous crop is flourish
ing DR.. Spencer has been at work in Utah and
the surrounding Territories for the past seven
years, and what he doesn't know about the Nor
mons is not worth knowing. He and Bishop
Tuttle, VINO for twice as long was mission
airy bishop of Utah, often met in their warfare
against the common enemy. In conversing with
DR.. Spencer one is impressed with the fact that
the MOrmons are getting tighter grip
every question pu. to him, and ADMIT,
it with a seriousness that leaves no
doubt of the genuineness of the preachers fears.
There is no Disgusting the fact that Mormon
ism is Spreading steadily" said DR.. Spencer
yesterday to a Post-Dispatch reporter. Il at
tended great meeting in Salt Lake City the
other day. ana there heard things that ought
raise the mighty arm of Christendom. Il was
triumphantly declared that the Mormons have a
bishop in every country under the sun, aud that
the faith is being propagased with great success.
Naturally people want to know how the
money is secured to keep the fires of faith burn
ing all over the world. The sinews for this
silent but destructive war are obtained by the
tithing system, which is as iaexorable in its
operations the most tyrannicai impost ever
levied. To understand ir thoroughly one must
understand the priesthood thoroughly. The
priesthood numbers about 30, 900, and the
members perform their duty without pay.
Each priest has only three or four families
to look after. and as consequence, he knows
to pound how much wheat, and other
produce is raised, and can figure out exactly
what the tithing tribute should be beforehand.
If the offering less than this the delinquent is
brought before the church. l. is, perhaps,
needless say that this system of espionage is
effective that there are very few cases of der
elections. Last year by tithng the Mormons
raised $500, 900. This vast sum is devoted almost
entirely to the propagation of the faith, as the
priesthood is not an expensive body
What percentage Of the Mormons polyg
amous?"
mot more than fifteen That's not saving.
however, that there would not be many more If
the laws were relaxed. In fact, many of those
who are content now with one wife have told
me that they were only waiting for the repeal of
the laws, which they declare are unjust in every
particular. That they are certain of the repeal
there can be doubt. The priests tell them
honestly think the priests speak by divine reve-
lation, the very voice Of God"
Then the masses are to rest in their belief in
the divine authority for their practices?'
mo doubt about it in the least. They
more devoted in that respect than any body of
Christians know. Bat it is such blind belief
that they are easily led. OF course, they have
tho Bible as one of their books of authority,
but claim that the later revelation of the Nor
mon prophet exceeds IL in value"
"Are the leaders honest in their belief. alsor'
Undoubtedly they are, or at least they seem to
be-"
ITO what extent do the Mormons dominate
the affairs of the Terrtory2"
Completely, you might say. The Eastern
people have no idea Of their predominance Out
Of 265 polling places reported at the last cleo
ton, sixty-five showed not a single vote cast by
a gentle, and in two-thlrds of the rest only
from one to fifteen. 1t is this complete ascend
ency that does SO mueh to nullIfy the Edmunds
law. Take for instance. the duty of United
States marshal He sand one two assistants
are actively opposed by the entire force of the
Mormon community. by all the city govern
ment by the sheriff, by all the petty officers and
hun cd rail- ipdf atn onf
is secured against Mormon by the grand jury,
he is in nearly every case informed of it before
hand. But in spite Of it all, there have been a
number OF successful prosecutions. But in
most instances these successes are in the city.
In the country polygamy is going on just the
same. that 10. openly. In the cities no reason
but it is now practiced with secrecy. Marriages
being celebrated by the church, of course they
can go on just the same as before, "as the law
cannot get hold of shose ceremonies"
care the Mormons a law-abiding peoples"
''Well, that depends If the laws are their
own they abide by them. but if not they don't
pay much attention to them. But any ATTEMPT
at instituting a comparison between the gentiles
and MorInons in the matter of crime must fail,
since the church smothers every crime COM
mitted by Mormon and blazes out the sins of
the eentiles"
IF the Edn1unds law is reducing the number
of polyeamists. how do they continue to growl"
'By Immigration. In addition to their other
funds. they haveiwhat is called a perpetual emf
grafton fund. This is spent in furnishing boz
muses. for deluded foreigners. Polygamy has
little to do in inducing immigration.
The Mormon missionaries say little about
IT, They go to the poor Scandnavians,
for instance, and offer them free passage and so
many acres of land. The foreigners do not care
for anything bat the chance to get TO America.
and they EN- brace the Mormon belief and the
chance at the same time. When they arrive
they get the land as promised them, but only as
a tenant of the church which owns all the land.
By these land .ofers they able to start nu-
rnerous colonies in the neighbor.ng Territories.
When they get half dozen Mormon families
settled in valley they practically get the entire
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